Takedown shelter



" ,May 19,"1 970 J. F F AR'R "3,512,316

TAKEYDOWN SHELTER Filed Sept. 27. 1967 4 Sheets-$heet 1 Fig l0 James E Parr IN VENTOR.

J. F. FARR TAKEDOWN SHELTER May 19, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed se pt. 27,1967

Fig./2

Jdves FQ Parr INVENTOR.

BY QM WWW 39m May 19,1970 J. F. PARR' 3,512,3 6-

TAKEDOWN SHELTER Filed Sept. 27. 1967 4 sneets -sheet 4 v James F. Parr INVENI'OR.

WWW Em United States Patent TAKEDOWN SHELTER James F. Parr, Hamilton, Mont. (2327 E. Cameron, West Covina, Calif. 91790) Filed Sept. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 670,995 Int. Cl. E041: 7/02, 7/06; E04d 1/36 US. CI. 52-92 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shelter assembled from prefabricated panel sections of reduced size and weight. The shelter is held assembled by connectors securing abutting studs of the wall panel sections to each other while clamping bolt assemblies hold abutting roof panel sections clamped to sealing joints. The rafters of the roof sections are secured to the wall sections by corner braces that straddle the abutting studs.

This invention relates to prefabricated shelters and more particularly to a lightweight, modular panel type of shelter construction capable of being easily and rapidly erected and disassembled.

While many prefabricated shelter constructions have been devised, they have usually required some structural members of relatively long dimension making transport of the disassembled shelter rather difficult. Further, prior prefabricated shelter arrangements have required special fasteners and other expensive hardware in order to pro duce an erected shelter having the desired rigidity and ruggedness.

The shelter construction of the present invention while being rugged, leakproof and windproof, avoids the use of any structural members which dimensionally exceed in length any of the modular panel sections from which it is constructed and also utilizes relatively short connectors that do not require any special tools for installation. Thus, the modular panels from which the shelter is assembled, as well as all other parts necessary to assemble the shelter may be easily stored or transported, rapidly assembled and taken down.

In accordance with the present invention, the prefabricated shelter may be made from a plurality of vertical wall panel sections which are interconnected to form the sides of the shelter by relatively short connectors including a novel wedge-type of connector extending through abutting studs of adjacent wall sections. The wall sections are secured by pivoted latches to a floor assembly and may also be tied down by means of cables. Triangular braces which are interconnected with the abutting studs of the wall sections form a rigid connection to flat roof panel sections which are fitted over the upper edges of the wall sections. The roof panel sections are interconnected to each other by sealing joints so as to form a leakproof assembly.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a typical shelter constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view through the shelter taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 3--3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view corresponding to a portion of the construction illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 55 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the disassembled parts of one of the connectors utilized in the shelter construction illustrated in FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the disassembled components of a corner portion of the shelter construction as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another form of connector capable of being utilized in place of the connector illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the clamping plate associated with the connector of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the connector illustrated in FIG. -8 as installed.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 11-11 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial elevational view illustrating the manner in which the wall sections are secured to the floor of the shelter.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a typical shelter constructed in accordance with the present invention which is generally referred to by the reference numeral 10. The shelter is assembled from modular panel setions mounted on a floor assembly 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the shelter is formed by four vertical sides and a flat, sloping roof. The roof is formed by three interconnected roof sections consisting of two end roof sections 14 of identical construction and an intermediate roof section 16 similar in construction and of the same size as the end roof sections 14. The roof sections 14 and 16 constitute the largest in both dimension and weight of the prefabricated components of the shelter. The vertically larger side of the shelter is formed from three side wall panel sections 18 of identical construction. The opposite vertically lower side of the shelter is also formed of three side Wall sections identical in construction to the side wall sections 18 except as to vertical height. The side walls formed by the sections 18 and the vertically lower side wall sections are interconnected by end wall panel sections 20 and 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the wall sections may be provided with suitable windows 24 such as utilized in trailers while one of the end wall sections 20 may be provided with a Dutch door consisting of the door panel sections 26 and 28 hinged by hinges 30 to the wall section and adapted to be locked in closed positions by the latch lock hasps 32.

Referring now to FIG. 7, it will be observed that the floor assembly which is made of suitable flooring panels 34 secured to floor joists 36 interconnected 'by the sills .38, is adapted to support along the edge portions thereof, the wall panel sections 18, 20 and 22. Each of the side wall panel sections 18 is formed from a rectangular sheet of material such as a A" plywood panel 40 to which a plurality of vertical studs or posts 42 are secured along the vertical edges 44 of the panel 40 and intermediate those edges. The upper ends of the studs 42 are spaced from the upper edge 46 of the panel 40 and are tied together by a top plate or frame member 48. Secured to the panel 40 above the top plate along the upper edge 46, is a reinforcing strip 50. A baseboard strip 52 is also secured to the panel 40 abutting the lower ends of the studs 42 and projecting below the lower edge of the panel 40. The studs 42, reinforcing strip 50 and baseboard 52 may be nailed and glued to the panel 40 in order to form a rigid wall panel section. The wall panel section when properly positioned and mounted along an edge portion of the floor assembly 12, is secured to the floor assembly by means of a pivoted strap iron latch element 54. As more clearly seen in FIG. 12, the latch element 54 is pivotally mounted on the baseboard 52 by a lag screw 56 and is provided with a slot 58 adapted to a 3 receive the lag screw secured to one of the edge joists 36 associated with the floor assembly.

The end wall sections such as the wall section 20 shown in FIG. 7, is similar in construction to the side wall sections 18. Accordingly, the wall section 20' includes a plywood panel 62 to which a plurality of studs 64 are secured interconnected at the upper ends by a top plate 66 and abutting at the lower ends, a baseboard 68. Also, a reinforcing strip 70 is secured to the panel 62 above the top plate 66. However, no stud is secured to the panel 62 along the vertical corner edge 72 of the end panel section so that the panel 62 may be bolted or otherwise fastened to the stud 42 associated with the panel section 18. It will also be appreciated, that the upper edge 74 of the panel section 20* slopes downwardly from the vertical comer edge 72 in view of the downward slope of the roof from the vertically higher side wall of the shelter formed by the panel sections 18 to the vertically lower side wall.

The roof sections such as illustrated in FIG. 7, include a flat roof panel 76 to which a plurality of parallel spaced rafters 78 are secured. Also secured to at least two edges of each of the roof panels 76, are end strips 80 which are spaced from the ends 82 of the rafters so as to provide a space within the roof section for receiving the upper portion of the wall section above the top plates. The end roof sections 14 are also provided with edge strips 84 along the longitudinal edge of the roof panels 76 spaced from the adjacent rafters 78 so as to form spaces receiving the upper portions of the end wall sections 20 and 22 above the top plate 66' for example as shown in FIG. 7v When the roof sections are assembled on the wall sections, they are joined by sealing joints 86 as will be hereafter explained in detail. It will however be now apparent that each of the roof sections forms a rigid assembly when the rafters 78 and edge strips 80' and 84 are nailed and glued to the roof panel 76.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be observed that the vertical studs of adjacent wall sections that form the sides of the shelter, such as the wall sections 20 and 22, abut each other and are tied together by a plurality of connectors 88. The same type of connector 88 may be utilized to secure the wall sections at the corners as for example between the stud 42 of the wall section 18 and the panel 62 of the wall section 20 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Further, the corners of the shelter may be reinforced by corner strips 92 secured to the outside of the panels 62 associated with the wall sections 20 and 22 by the connectors 88 extending through the studs 42 to which panels 40 are nailed by nails 94. The roof sections on the other hand are secured to the Wall sections along the edge strips. Further, the roof sections are secured to the side wall sections by coupling assemblies including pairs of triangular braces 96 where adjacent wall sections and roof sections meet and fasteners 104 and respectively securing the braces to the rafters 78 and the posts 42 aligned therewith.

Referring nowto FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be observed that the edge strips 80 of the roof sections are secured to the wall sections by eyebolts 98 that extend from the edge strips through the wall panels 40 and reinforcing strips 50 for example. Thus, the eyebolts 98 not only tie the roof sections to the wall sections but also form a connection to an anchoring cable 100 that may be used to tie the shelter down to the ground. The eyebolts 98 may interconnect the wall and roof sections adjacent the corners of the shelter horizontally spaced from the triangular braces 96 which straddle the abutting studs 42 for example of the wall sections as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to which the braces are connected by means of a connector 88 for example. The vertical legs of the braces 96 are provided with notches 102 receiving the top plates 48 of the wall sections while the upper horizontal legs of the braces are received between the rafters 78 of the adjacent roof sections 14 and 16. The fastener bolt assembly 104 interconnects each pair of braces 96 with the 4 adjacent rafters. Thus, a rigid assembly of the wall and roof sections is provided.

The area between the roof sections is sealed by means of the sealing joints 86 aforementioned. Each sealing joint includes a pair of spaced sealing strips 106 secured to the adjacent roof sections as more clearly seen in FIG. 5. Bridging the sealing strips is a batten strip 108 which extends the length of the roof section. A clamping assembly 110 secures the sealing joint adjacent opposite ends thereof to the roof section. Each clamping assembly includes a bolt shank 112 having a head 114 and washer 116 engaging the top of the batten strip 108, the bolt shank 112 extending downwardly between the rafters of the adjacent roof sections and the braces 96 through a spacer block 118 and a clamp plate 120. The spacer block is disposed between the rafters while the clamp plate 120 bridges the rafters and engages the bottom edges thereof. The clamping assembly is completed by a washer 122 and clamping nut 124 which abut the clamping plate 120'.

As more clearly seen in FIG. 6, each of the connectors 88 aforementioned includes a pair of cooperating wedge elements 126 and 128 having oppositely directed slots through which a connector rod 130 extends, the rod having a head 132 and a washer 134 abutting one ofthe studs in spaced relation to the wedging element 126 through which the studs are clamped to each other. The rod 130 in order to limit axial movement of the wedge ment 128 and extends through a key slot 136 formed in a clamping plate 138. The key slot 136 is adapted to axially lock the clamping plate to the groove 140 in the rod 130 in order to limit axial movement of the wedge elements relative to the members being clamped. The wedge elements which may be made of wood may, after being assembled on the rod 130 between the clamping plate 138 and the members to be clamped against the washer 134, then be transversely displaced relative to each other and the rod 130 in order to tighten the connector.

Another form of connector is shown in FIGS. 8 through 11 which is similar in use to the connectors 88 previously described. The connector 142 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 11, includes a connector rod 144 provided with a plurality of axially spaced grooves 146 in order to accommodate the clamping of structural members of different widths. The structural members abut the head 148 welded to one end of the rod and engage one of the wedgeelements 150 made of metal which is slotted to open in a direction opposite to the slot associated with the other coacting wedge element 152 from which the rod 144 projects. The wedge element 152 is also provided on the sides thereof with a dovetail recess 154 to slidably mount a clamping plate 156 having inturned sides 158. A key slot 160 is formed in the clamping plate to engage one of the grooves 146 of the rod. Thus, the connector 142 may be utilized to secure abutting members to each other in the same manner as hereinbefore described-in connection with the connectors 88.

From the foregoing description, the construction of the modular panel sections that form the shelter as well as its assembly and disassembly will be apparent. It will be appreciated, that the panel sections may be constructed without reliance upon any costly or unusual manufacturing methods and will be lightweight and limited in size to facilitate storage and transport. Further, the panel sections may be assembled and interconnected without any long and-extensive fasteners to form a rigid, leakproof shelter. The shelter may also be readily disassembled for erection at any other desired location.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a shelter construction having a plurality of vertical sides supporting at least two roof sections and each vertical side being made of at least two wall sections, each of said roof sections including a roof panel and a plurality of rafters secured to the roof panel in spaced relation to each other having ends beyond which the roof panel extends, said wall sections supporting the roof panel at said ends of the rafters, a pair of corner braces connected to adjacent wall sections between rafters of adjacent roof sections, means securing the braces to said rafters of the adjacent roof sections, a sealing joint overlapping the roof panels of said'adjacent roof sections and clamping means extending from the sealing joint between said rafters of the adjacent roof sections for holding the sealing joint clamped to the rafters and the roof panels of the adjacent roof sections, each of said wall sections including a wall panel, a plurality of vertical studs secured to the wall panel, a top plate interconnecting the studs in spaced relation to an upper edge of the wall panel, said wall panel adjacent the upper edge being secured to the edge strips of the roof section in which the wall section is received, the corner braces being provided with notches receiving the top plates and being secured to abutting studs of adjacent wall sections, and a plurality of connectors securing the abutting studs to each other.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said connectors includes a air of contacting wedge elements, a connecting shank extending through said abutting studs and the wedge elements having a head portion engaging one of the wedge elements and a groove portion projecting from the other of the wedge elements, and a clamping plate having a key slot through which the groove portion extends.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said sealing joint includes a pair of spaced sealing strips secured to the roof panels of the adjacent roof sections, and a batten strip bridging the sealing strips, said clamp means extending from the batten strip between the sealing strips.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said clamping means includes a fastener bolt having a head engaging the batten strip, a spacer block disposed between the rafters of the adjacent roof sections through which the fastener bolt extends, and a clamp plate bridging the rafters below the spacer block through which the fastener bolt extends.

5. In a shelter construction having a plurality of vertical sides supporting at least two roof sections and each vertical side being made of at least two wall sections, each of said roof sections including a roof panel and a plurality of rafters secured to the roof panel in spaced relation to each other having ends beyond which the roof panel extends, said wall sections supporting the roof panel at said ends of the rafters, a pair of corner braces connected to adjacent wall sections between rafters of adjacent roof sections, means securing the braces to said rafters of the adjacent roof sections, a sealing joint overlapping the roof panels of said adjacent roof sections and clamping means extending from the sealing joint between said rafters of the adjacent roof sections for holding the sealing joint clamped to the rafters and the roof panels of the adjacent roof sections, said clamping means including a fastener bolt having a head engaging the sealing joint, a spacer block disposed between the rafters of the adjacent roof sections through which the fastener bolt extends, and a clamp plate bridging the rafters below the spacer block through which the fastener bolt extends.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,931,750 10/1933 Blaske 5290 X 2,706,538 4 /l955 Schumann 5290 X 3,013,642 12/1961 Hammitt et a1. 52572X 3,418,772 12/1968 Helgesen 52463 X 1,387,226 8/1921 Aird et al. -8.6 1,552,200 9/1925 Benish 858.6 2,653,356 9/1953 Brannon 52262 X 2,793,401 5/1957 Paschke 52285 X 2,927,665 3/1960 Hauf 52262 3,376,676 4/1968 Tatevossian 52463 1,372,206 3/1921 Stadelman 5292 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner S. D. BURKE III, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

